Japanese word

細長い

Pronunciation

Romajihosonagai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivelong and narrow

Example

この細長い箱は軽いです。ko no hoso naga i bako wa karu i de su

This long, narrow box is light.

Illustration for 細長い (long and narrow)

More examples

川沿いに細長い公園が続いています。kawa so i ni hoso naga i kō en ga tsuzu i te i ma su

A long, narrow park stretches along the river.

Core concept

Refers to a shape that extends noticeably in one direction and has little width compared with its length.

Common phrases

  • 細長い形hoso naga i katachi

    long, narrow shape

  • 細長い顔hoso naga i kao

    long, narrow face

Similar words

長細いnagahosoi: Describes an object whose length stands out clearly compared with its small width.
ひょろ長いhyoronagai: Describes a person or object that looks unusually thin and long, sometimes in an awkward way.

Definition in Japanese

幅に比べて長さが際立っているさま。haba ni kura be te naga sa ga kiwa da tte i ru sa ma

Word origin

細長い (hosonagai) is a compound of 細い (hosoi), "thin," reduced to 細 (hoso), and 長い (nagai), "long," joining the two dimensions into one adjective.

Usage tips

  • In natural conversation, 細長い (hosonagai) can describe an object without specifying exact proportions, as long as it looks noticeably narrow compared with its length.

Related words

  • 細長さhosonagasalength and slendernessnoun

Word lists with this word